A friend for Thunder

[quinny12]

Hi guys,
So sad news last week that Bolt died but good news that my boyf and I are ready to take on the challenge of getting thunder a new friend I spoke to morton about rehoming Bounce, but I don’t really want to get Thunder neutered unless there are no other options (read a couple of detailed horror stories on here-argh!).

Can anyone give me advice on if we should go for a same age degu or a younger one for best chance of bonding?? A rescue near Oxford has a 4 year old male and Wood Green has a little degu of unknown age... he looks pretty small, but they are guessing at just over a year. He (coco) would be quite a lot smaller than Thunder.

I don’t know anything about Ralph the 4 year old, and he is on his own so I don’t know if he is dominant. Coco was on his own beside he was bullied by the other 2 degus that he arrived at the rescue with.

[bouncy]

You may find that coco is desperate for loving company, but is also going through that hormonal period. The Oxford goo is generally an unknown.

Each time I've been to a rescue and taken in a new goo to join a group, I've taken the other(s) with me to see initial reactions. If Thunder is happy to travel, this may be a consideration. Are you looking for lone goos, or pairs too?

[savvy]

I'm so sorry about Bolt.

Would it be possible to take Thunder with you to the rescue centre so he could help identify his potential new friend? That way you can see how they interact.

[savvy]

Sorry Bouncy, I think we crossed posts, lol.

[bouncy]

Haha yeah, but at least we suggested the same thing!

[quinny12]

We are looking for a lone gu as we can't fit a bigger cage that would be necessary for more. He doesn't hate travel so we can try it!

[deguconvert]

I kind of like the whole idea of Thunder and Bounce together, but I totally get the hesitation and uncertainty of neutering as well. Having a really excellent Vet that is very experienced with neutering degus is crucial to the success of the procedure. Those are around, but maybe not near you.

I like the suggestion made by both Bouncy and Savvy!

[quinny12]

Hi,
Just thought I'd update you on our (fingers crossed) happy ending! This is Thunder and his new friend Diego. We got Diego from a rescue center. He is apparently 5, but he acts like he is crazy baby with too much energy. We got Diego 2 weeks ago, he looks like he has had a rough life with shredded ears, a short tail and a massive circular missing patch of fur. We edged the cages closer across the living room... then they played out together, swapped sand, swapped substrate etc... then last night we put them together eeeeek! They are having the standard humping and chasing spats, but then all last night they snuggled and today they are snuggling yay! Over the two weeks Diego's fur has begun to re-grow so the patch is definitely filling in. Thunder has tons of energy now and is chatting away, so many noises! Hoping the peace lasts and I haven't spoken to soon... 



 

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[misscatafer]

Fantastic news! Congratulations and well done for giving Diego a forever home, glad he's settling in

[moletteuk]

Wonderful! How lovely that they are both already doing so much better and looks good for them getting along, they certainly look good and snuggled in the hammock.

[deguconvert]

LOVELY news!! Well done!

It isn't common to have such a quick bonding, and I just have to ask . . . are you certain they are both male? The rescue had identified him as male, I expect?

Believing they are indeed both male, I am thrilled that your introductions have gone so well. There are those rare pairings where it seems like they were just made to be best mates, and they love each other devotedly from the start. Excellently done!!

[quinny12]

I had a good look at his behind and I think he is a male, there is a fairly large gap between the cone and the anus... but I’m no expert! Just hope he is a guy like the rescue said. I think it helps Diego is totally submissive and was in desperate need of love.

[moletteuk]

Yes, that can happen. If you would like a second opinion take a couple of photos if you get chance.

[quinny12]

Tadaa! One butt picture... Sorry there is only one, he wasn't to thrilled by the experience. 

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[savvy]

They never are, lol!

Personally I'd say possibly a girl. Although I could be wrong, but there doesn't seem much of a gap there.

[quinny12]

Oh god well he weighs 255g at the moment so
I guess we will just have to see! I can get my little finger in the gap...

[savvy]

It could just be the photo. Others may think differently, so don't panic just yet.

[winic1]

Most importantly, do both degus look the same? As long as they look the same, they're likely to be the same gender. If they look different, then you might have reason to be concerned.

[hpdegus]

Do females have such a distinct tendon (I think it's a tendon?) in the gap? I only have males, so I've never sexed a female before.

[deguconvert]

That raised line of tissue between the anus and the cone is typical of males. There is not tiny "smile" right behind the cone either, which is the vaginal opening, and while that is hard to see when you are looking at a live degu, the still photo makes it easier to spot. I am actually thinking male, myself.